Spiritual Gifts 101 (THE Spiritual gift!)

Any fruitful discussion of spiritual gifts must begin by asking two essential questions–where do they come from and what is their purpose. Unfortunately, most conversations about spiritual gifts end up being nothing more than random discussions on the charismatic gifts–in fact you are probably hoping I am going to give my position on the charismatic gifts in this post. I am not . . . if that is what you were hoping for, feel free to stop reading now, HOWEVER if you are interesting in thinking about spiritual gifts so that you can serve more faithfully in your local church, by all means keep reading.

As we talk about spiritual gifts, we must point to THE spiritual gift–the Holy Spirit. If you have repented and put your faith in Christ for salvation, the Holy Spirit of God lives in you (Eph. 1:13). It seems obvious, but as we think about spiritual gifts we must remind ourselves that THE fundamental spiritual gift is not tongues, teaching, or exhortation, the fundamental spiritual gift is the Holy Spirit which empowers us to serve. The Holy Spirit empowers God’s people to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). These two texts together tell me two things–those who believe have the Spirit and the Spirit empowers those who believe to magnify the name of Jesus!

“Spiritual” is not just a handy adjective that the New Testament writers threw around to refer to one’s relationship with God. Thus people are called spiritual in the Bible, not because they acted spiritually but because they were possessed by the Holy Spirit. The NT writers nearly always used the term “spiritual” in reference to the Holy Spirit. Thus spiritual gifts are called spiritual because they come from the Holy Spirit!

Thus believers have the Spirit and thus have spiritual gifts as all spiritual gifts are “are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Cor. 12:11). Thus we have established the source of spiritual gifts–the Holy Spirit.

What is the purpose of spiritual gifts? Why does God give spiritual gifts to believers? I think there are three clear purposes of spiritual gifts that can be clearly seen in the NT. 1 Peter 4:10-12 will help us:

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies- in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The fundamental purpose of our spiritual gifts must be to glorify God (v 11). In other words I have spiritual gifts NOT primarily for my benefit but for God’s glory in Jesus Christ.

God has given us spiritual gifts to serve one another (v 10). Peter doesn’t allow for a category of spiritual gifts that are exercised merely for one’s own benefit. Being “a good steward of God’s varied grace” means using your spiritual gifts to serve your brothers and sisters in the church.

Spiritual gifts must promote unity and not division in the church. This was the problem in the church in Corinth, people in the church were competing with one another by boasting of their ability to speak in tongues more than others (1 Cor. 14). It is worth noting that unity is featured in Paul’s discourses on spiritual gifts in 1 Cor. 12, Rom. 12, and Eph. 4. If your “spiritual gift” is causing division in the church, that is probably because its not spiritual. The Holy Spirit doesn’t empower believers to divide the church for which Christ died!

So here are two essential questions to ask yourself:

Does my “spiritual gift” glorify God or does it glorify myself? Is what I am doing pointing people to the glory of God in Christ Jesus?

Does my “spiritual gift” promote unity in the church for which Christ died?

These questions will help you understand whether you are really exercising your spiritual gifts in the church or not. If your spiritual gifts don’t pass these two tests, its probably because they are not spiritual. If you are a Christian, God has empowered you with His very Holy Spirit so you ought to be thinking about how you can be used of the Lord for His glory by serving in the church.

This post may seem simple to you, but as we talk about spiritual gifts we must first understand where they come from and why we, as believers, have them. Setting this foundation helps keep us sober-minded as we think about how we can be used of the Lord to serve in His churches!

In my next post, I will address the dangerous question of how to know what your spiritual gifts are!

12 Responses

Not a bad overview of the reason for gifts of the Spirit. Eph. 1:13-14 teaches that the Holy Spirit is the seal and mark of the Christian, who guarantees our inheritence until the redemption of those who are in God’s possession.

Often people make the distinction between having the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit. Thoughts people?

I don’t know why anyone would want to know what I think on the subject, but since Drew refuses to pour gas on the fire, I don’t mind . . . on the charismatic gifts, I am open but cautious, very cautious. I think it is hard to make an argument from Scripture that some gifts have ceased, even though that is where I feel most comfortable sitting. But, I also find it difficult to make any argument from Scripture that the charismatic gifts are useful today, for the glory of God, especially since they are unverifiable and there are no more apostles.

I will say this . . . private prayer language is not a legitimate spiritual gift. In NO WAY does it edify or promote unity within the church.

So, I really want to see some discussion on this question: “Often people make the distinction between having the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit. Thoughts people?”

And some discussion on this comment: “don’t you think people make too big-a-deal of Spiritual gifts inventory surveys? You know . . . if that formula suggest you have it, then BOOM (ha! John Madden), you got it. Uh, not necessarily.”

Oh I am not refusing to throw gas on the fire! I said I was going to talk about the charismatic gifts–my point in this post was to establish where gifts come from and their purpose. I think the charismatic gifts discussion distracts us from understanding spiritual gifts as we should. My point is that if you have the Spirit/filled with the Spirit (I think they are the same thing, more on that later) then you have spiritual gifts and you have them for the purpose glorifying God and edifying His church! In other words we have spiritual gifts for the purpose of serving each other in the church–that is the context of EVERY passage on Spiritual gifts. So that does answer questions of Charismatic gifts in a lot of ways because the way that they are conducted often doesn’t have a lot to do with serving people in the church (i.e. private prayer languages).
My point was that if we just come to every discussion of Spiritual gifts by asking what people think about the charismatic gifts without first discussing why we have spiritual gifts we are not likely to utilize our gifts for the upbuilding of Christ’s church! My point is that I don’t want to waste time thinking about the charismatic gifts if I have not first thought about how I can be used by God to serve in my church! I think the charismatic gifts are worth talking about because people are so interested in them today but lets not let that discussion distract us from our responsibility to serve our Lord Jesus Christ!

My next post is going to address the question of how we know what our spiritual gifts are. I wrote an outline of practical ways we can address this question, I plan to post it. I think the question itself is a dangerous one to ask because we run the risk of sectioning ourselves off from serving in certain capacities in the church. I realize I am giving away my answer, but oh well. I think you could infer my thoughts on spiritual gift inventories from that–but I would love to hear what others think.

I think Kevin’s question is great–is there a distinction between having the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Hey dude. I was kidding about ‘refusing to pour gas on the fire.’ I know you’re not that kind of tuck-tail guy. I also applaud your refusal to detract from the nature and purpose of these gifts . . .

You said that you think that having the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit are the same . . . how so? I ask because it seems that the New Testament makes the distinction at times.

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them . . .” (Acts. 4:8).

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Holy Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph. 5:18-21).

Paul also says in Rom. 6:12 that we must not let sin reign in our mortal bodies, to make us obey their passions . . .

It seems to me that if there is something better to be filled with (the Holy Spirit), then we shouldn’t fill ourselves with other things (e.g. wine). Unbelievers live and think independently of God, seeking their own will and exaltation. Christians are to “be imitators of God” (Eph. 5.1) walking “in love, as CHRIST loved us,” being filled with the Spirit. So as we are conformed to image of Christ (vv. 23-24), we are putting off the old self (v. 22). How is that done apart from being filled with the Spirit?

Peter, in Acts 4:8, was ‘filled’ with the Spirit to speak to the council . . .

That does seem to be different from the practical words that Paul tells the church at Ephesus in Eph. 5.

So, it seems that there are two levels to the question whether there is a difference between having the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit (maybe three?). First, in the New Testament, the charismatic gifts were evidence of being filled with the Spirit. That is one level.

The second level is pointed out by Paul in Eph. 5. Without actively putting sin in our lives to death, if we indulge in things (e.g. wine), we are being filled with those things, not the Spirit. If we are doing that, we are not putting off the old self, we are kicking against the discipline of grace, and we are refusing the Spirit.

Since you said that ‘having’ the Spirit is the same as ‘being filled with’ the Spirit (and since I trust you!), there must be a third level for the topic, or a sense that those who ‘have’ the Spirit are also ‘filled’ with the Spirit, without distinction. I’ll let you answer that in your next post?

Thanks for your comment Kevin–I made a blanket statement that I didn’t mean to make, I appreciate your bringing it to light!

I think you hit on what I meant by that. I didn’t mean for it to be blanket statement that those two things are the same bar-none in Scripture. What I was getting at is that those who possess the Spirit are filled with the Spirit in the sense that anyone who has the Spirit can and must do the things that the Spirit empowers us to do. In that statement I was rebelling against the idea that those who exercise certain gifts have more of the Spirit than others. I will try to address that briefly in my next post. I even thought about doing two separate posts–one on “over-spiritualizing the Holy Spirit” and another on “under-spiritualizing the Holy Spirit”–I think both are dangers that individuals and churches fall into. But I don’t know, I may be getting ahead of myself. If I can write a practical post on understanding spiritual gifts and a post on my position on the charismatic gifts that may be enough. So much to write, so little time!

Don’t you think we could also rightly say that too many people in the church don’t really know the role of the Holy Spirit for the church, and therefore, the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit to edify the body and glorify Christ? And to put it further, that is also a big reason why some gifts are considered better than love, and those who have those are better than others?

Hey, if you want people to answer questions, you can’t answer them yourself.

I’ve always heard filling and indwelling taught as separate events. Romans 8 would be talking about indwelling, which all Christians have all the time. It’s the seal and a proof of our salvation.

Then since it seems like Christians are commanded to be filled, it’s considered an ongoing process. Just like we are to continually pray, regularly confess sins, everyday yield to God’s will sacrificing our own. How would you interpret the imperative nature of the verses on being filled if Christians automatically are already?

It does get complicated, though. I think of my choice-making on levels. I’ve got oars, a rudder, and sails. The oars are what I superficially want to do. The rudder is the life-direction, what my heart deep down wants. And the sails are lifted when I let the Spirit direct me.

Oooh! A favorite verse: John 3:8, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

What do you think of that verse? “Born of the Spirit” would usually be considered synonymous with salvation: “born again Christian,” but all Christians don’t act like that, do they?
To God be all glory,
Lisa of Longbourn

Yes I absolutely agree–1 Corinthians 13 isn’t just randomly sandwiched in between two of the most important passages on Spiritual gifts! Love is absolutely essential for the proper utilizing of our Spiritual gifts for the glory of God in the church!

That is why I said that you are not exercising your Spiritual gifts if you are puffing yourself up or causing division. If you are doing either of those two things, then whatever you are exercising is not of the Holy Spirit! I mentioned it briefly, but that is much of what Paul is concerned about in 1 Corinthians 14–some people in the church were boasting in their ability to speak in tongues which nullified the purpose of Spiritual gifts in the first place. It seems like everytime we talk about 1 Cor 14, we just end up having a discussion about what tongues are, but Paul’s main point in that chapter is about the church and how everything we do in the church should glorify God AND edify the saints.

There is so much more that could be said here, but I am in the Eastern Time Zone!

When I led a Bible study on spiritual gifts, one of the most thought-provoking questions was: Once we “have” gifts, can we use them on our own?

and
What is 1 Peter 4:7-11 saying about the Christian disciplines that accompany spiritual gifts?

and based on Ephesians 4:1-16
What happens when the church uses their gifts? What do they prevent/correct?

I did the study a long time ago, and would be interested to hear the insight of seminarians and people (others who read this blog?) outside the comfortable sphere of my own church. In every church and ministry of which I’ve been part, I have heard the same teaching on the Holy Spirit, and close to a same teaching on eschatology, and until recently on baptism. It’s surprising to me that there is this much debate on things I never questioned – because I thought I did a lot of questioning.

I’ll probably get fired for it, but I spent half the afternoon yesterday talking about propriety for ‘altar calls’ (including whether or not they are necessary).

So, I better stay off the blog today. But, got one more . . .

In short, concerning having and being filled with the Spirit, I suggested that it is no contradiction that Christians both have the Spirit and are also commanded to be filled with the Spirit (see comment #3).

I was trying to think of some other times that we are commanded to do something that we already have/are, and there are a few. John tells the folks (1 John), more or less, that you will know they are Christians if they love one another. Shortly after that, he commands them to love one another. John Piper asked whether there is a contradiction there? Of course the answer is no. It is no contradiction for John to tell Christians (e.g. they have love) to live out the gospel (e.g. to love one another).

Also, in John 15, Jesus teaches that those who believe in Christ are the branches of the vine (i.e. they abide in the vine). What do branches of the vine naturally do? Bear fruit (see previous post). So real Christians bear fruit (and the Father prunes the branches to bear more fruit, and he cuts off the branches that were never really a part of the vine). At the same time, Jesus commands us to abide in him (i.e. abide in the vine). Is there a contradiction there? No. It is no contradiction for Jesus to tell his children to do (abide in the vine) what they are (those who abide).

So what about Paul and the Spirit? In Eph. 5:18, he tells the church at Ephesus that they must be filled with the Spirit. Why would he command them to be filled with what they already have (Eph. 1:13-14)? Is there a contradiction. No, of course not. It is no contradiction for Paul to tell those who have the Spirit by grace through faith in Christ to also be filled with the Spirit. It is also no contradiction for Paul to say that sin no longer has a grip (or, that the old self is dead and we are new in Christ) on our lives and then to tell us to put sin to death (or, to put off the old self and put on the new self).

Great point Kevin, you are hitting on some things that I want to talk about concerning Spiritual gifts. It seems like often you hear people talk about Spiritual gifts in a “either you have it or you don’t” manner and I am not sure where they get that from Scripture. Scripture does seem to indicate that there are varieties of gifts and different people ought to serve in different ways (i.e. Paul’s body of Christ metaphor–not everyone can be a hand or else where would the sense of hearing be ect–c.f. Eph 4, 1 Cor 12, Rom 12). Yet there is no indication that we should only use “our gifts!” In fact Paul never tells us how to figure out what our gifts are–which might just mean that we aren’t supposed to section ourselves off to using just “our” gifts! Why would we treat spiritual gifts separately from other disciplines of the faith? Is growing in holiness a separate issue from growing in your practice of the spiritual gifts? Are we to grow in grace by merely putting off the flesh? Of course not! In our fight against sin, we must also put on the Spirit! Meaning we should seek to grow in serving the church which means practicing the gifts we have been given. I will talk about this more in my next post. For now I leave you with 1 Corinthians 12:4-6:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

We may have “varieties of gifts” but the same spirit empowers them and they come from the same Lord who empowers them in everyone! Though our gifts may differ at times, it is the same Spirit empowering us all. One Christian has no more access to the Spirit than another, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t seek to grow in serving the body with our spiritual gifts. If you read Ephesians 4:13, which is preceded by Paul’s discussion on Spiritual gifts in 4:11-12, Paul clearly ties spiritual gifts to maturing in Christ! So let’s use our spiritual gifts to serve the church until “we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ!”

That said, I think what you are saying about love and fighting sin could also be said of Spiritual gifts–we possess them now if we have the Holy Spirit and yet are to grow in using them more and more for the glory of God and the upbuilding of the church!

[…] 3. Never use your spiritual gifts as an excuse not to serve! This is contradicts the purpose of spiritual gifts: to glorify God, build up the church, and promote unity. See Spiritual Gifts 101: THE Spiritual Gift. […]